Small Bits n’ Pieces Bag Tutorial

In my church bag I keep a couple of these little elastic-close bags filled with small toys to keep my little one reverent.  One bag holds a few farm animals, another holds a couple of small cars.

This bag would also be great to help contain the marbles in the bottom of the toy bin, and a bigger version would be perfect to hold those dominoes that never stay in the flimsy cardboard box.

I’ve seen other versions of this bag that uses a button flap opening, or even a drawstring.  When I first made this bag I was planning on using a drawstring, but discovered I was out of ribbon and was too lazy to go to the store.  I had a spare hair elastic sitting on my sewing table and had a sudden bit of inspiration – why not use that?  Thirty minutes later the Bits n’ Pieces Bag was born!

Makes one bag measuring about 5 1/2” x 7”

You’ll need:
two pieces of fabric 6” x 15”
one hair elastic
coordinating thread


STEP ONE:


Cut two rectangles of fabric measuring 6” x 15”
For my bag I used a flannel for the outside (the blue dinosaurs) and a quilting cotton for the liner (red dots).



STEP TWO:


Fold each rectangle in half and using a 1/4” seam, stitch up each side, making sure to backstitch at each end.


STEP THREE:


Take just the liner fabric bag and turn it right-side-out.  Now put the liner bag inside of the main fabric bag so you now have fabrics right-sides-together.


STEP FOUR:


With the liner bag inside of the main bag, line up side seams and pin in place.


STEP FIVE:


Leaving about a 3” opening, stitch around the top of the bag.  Be sure to back stitch at the beginning and end of stitching.  You will be turning the bag right-side-out through that little opening and you don’t want it to rip.


STEP SIX:


Carefully turn liner and main bag right-sides-out through the opening.


STEP SEVEN:


Stuff bag liner inside of main bag.  Press around the top of bag including the 3” opening where you turned the bag.  Top stitch along top of bag to close that opening and give the bag a finished look.


STEP EIGHT:

About 1 1/4” down from top, along side seam, attach hair elastic.  ( I just used a straight stitch and sewed back and forth over the elastic about 4 times.)

All done!  Fill it with your kid’s favorite bits n’ pieces!

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